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Homeschool laws in Virginia

Checked Oct 12, 2026 against 2 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Virginia to-do

For “Home instruction”. 2 other legal ways below.

  1. Send the notice of intent Every year
    By August 15 every year, with the list of subjects and evidence of the parent qualification.
  2. Notify the superintendent after a mid-year start First year
    If you move into the division or start home instruction after the school year has begun: notify as soon as practicable, then meet all the requirements within 30 days of that notice.
  3. Send the test score or evaluation Every year
    By August 1 following each school year of home instruction (not required for children under 6 on September 30).

Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.

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What Virginia asks

Virginia parents who homeschool send a notice to their division superintendent by August 15 each year, meet one of four parent qualifications, and by August 1 after each year send a test score or an evaluation showing progress. Other legal paths are a religious exemption granted by the school board and teaching by a tutor with Board of Education qualifications approved by the superintendent.

School age: Ages 5–17. A child who turns 5 on or before September 30 must attend school (or a legal alternative) until the 18th birthday. A parent may delay school for one year for a child who is not yet 6 on September 30 by notifying the school board.

Virginia has 3 legal ways to homeschool. Pick the one that fits your family; Homepen asks you when you set up.

Home instruction

Va. Code § 22.1-254.1 · Level 4: More involved

All the details, deadlines and notes
Notice
Every year: Every year by August 15: notice of intent to the division superintendent, with a list of subjects for the coming year and evidence that the parent meets one of the four qualifications. If you move in or start after the school year has begun: notify as soon as practicable, then meet the requirements within 30 days.
Time
Not verified yet: check with your state
Subjects
No subjects listed in the law
Assessment
An assessment you choose from the allowed options: Every year for children 6 or older on September 30: either a composite score in or above the 4th stanine on a nationally normed achievement test (or an equivalent ACT, SAT or PSAT score), or an evaluation the superintendent accepts (a letter from a licensed teacher or a person with a master's degree who knows the child's progress, or a report card or transcript from a college, distance learning program or home-education correspondence school).
By August 1 following each school year of home instruction, to the division superintendent.
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
No records required by the law
Teacher
The parent must meet one of four: hold a high school diploma; be a teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education; provide a program of study or curriculum (for example a correspondence or distance learning course); or provide evidence of being able to give the child an adequate education.

Deadlines

  • Send the notice of intent: By August 15 every year, with the list of subjects and evidence of the parent qualification.
  • Notify the superintendent after a mid-year start: If you move into the division or start home instruction after the school year has begun: notify as soon as practicable, then meet all the requirements within 30 days of that notice.
  • Send the test score or evaluation: By August 1 following each school year of home instruction (not required for children under 6 on September 30).
If the evidence of progress is not sent, the home instruction may be placed on probation for one year with a remediation plan.
School divisions may not share the information you send for home instruction outside the division without your written consent.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Reading list, Portfolio and evaluator packet, Year-end summary, Report card, High-school transcript.

Another option: Religious exemption

Va. Code § 22.1-254(B)(1); § 22.1-254.1(D) · Level 2: Light

All the details and notes
Notice
Not verified yet: check with your state: Not verified yet: check with your state
Time
No set number of days or hours
Subjects
No subjects listed in the law
Assessment
No assessment required
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
No records required by the law
Teacher
No qualification required
The school board must excuse a child who, together with the parents, is conscientiously opposed to school attendance because of bona fide religious training or belief; political, sociological or philosophical views or a merely personal moral code do not count.
Information a parent gives for this exemption may not be shared outside the school division without written consent.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Report card, High-school transcript.

Another option: Tutor or teacher approved by the superintendent

Va. Code § 22.1-254(A) · Level 5: Most involved

All the details
Notice
Approval needed before you start. Not verified yet: check with your state: Not verified yet: check with your state
Time
Not verified yet: check with your state
Subjects
No subjects listed in the law
Assessment
No assessment required
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
No records required by the law
Teacher
A tutor or teacher with the qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education, approved by the division superintendent.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Report card, High-school transcript.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Virginia Department of Education.

Keep your Virginia records without the paperwork

Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Virginia asks for.

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